Worktable having adjustable shield

ABSTRACT

A worktable includes a frame pivotally attached to a housing, a holder pivotally attached to the frame, a saw blade having a spindle rotatably attached to the holder for cutting one or more work pieces, and a guide member attached to the spindle of the saw blade, for engaging with and for guiding the work piece after being cut by the saw blade. A casing is secured to the frame and includes an outlet for coupling to a vacuum device. A follower is pivotally attached to the casing, for adjustably supporting the guide member, to allow the guide member to be adjusted relative to the frame and the housing. A shield may be attached to the guide member, for shielding the saw blade, and may be coupled to a vacuum device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a worktable, and more particularly to a worktable having an adjustable shield movable or adjustable relative to the circular blade, according to work pieces of different thickness, for suitably covering or shielding the circular blade, and for preventing cut chips or particles from flying everywhere.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Typical worktables comprise a circular blade rotatably supported in or on a table, and rotated or driven by a motor in order to cut work pieces. While cutting the work pieces, cut chips or particles may be generated and may flying everywhere. For preventing the cut chips or particles from flying everywhere, a fence guard or a shield is provided and engaged onto the circular blade, in order to cover and to shield the circular blade, and to confine the cut chips or particles, and thus to prevent the cut chips or particles from flying everywhere.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,735,245 to Cox discloses one of the typical worktables also comprising a circular blade rotatably supported in or on a table, and a fence guard or a shield attached or engaged onto the circular blade, in order to cover and to shield the circular blade, and to prevent the cut chips or particles from flying everywhere.

Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 6,360,798 to Apolinski discloses a similar typical worktable also comprising a fence guard or a shield attached to the supporting table, and engaged onto the circular blade, in order to cover and to shield the circular blade, and to prevent the cut chips or particles from flying everywhere.

The fence guard or shield is pivotally attached to the supporting table, and may not be adjusted or moved relative to the circular blade. However, when work pieces of different thicknesses are engaged onto the work table and cut or machined by the circular blade, the fence guard or shield may be tilted or inclined relative to the supporting table and the circular blade, and thus may not suitably cover or shield the circular blade, such that the cut chips or particles may not be completely or suitably confined within the fence guard or shield and may fly everywhere.

The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional worktables.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a worktable including an adjustable shield movable or adjustable relative to the circular blade, according to such as the thickness and/or the length of work pieces, for suitably covering or shielding the circular blade, and for preventing cut chips or particles from flying everywhere.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a worktable comprising a housing, a frame pivotally attached to the housing, a holder pivotally attached to the frame, a saw blade including a spindle rotatably attached to the holder, for cutting one or more work pieces, and a guide member attached to the spindle of the saw blade, for engaging with and for guiding the work piece after being cut by the saw blade.

The frame includes a casing secured thereto and rotated in concert with the frame relative to the housing, the casing includes a chamber formed therein to receive the saw blade. The casing includes at least one passage formed therein to slidably receive the spindle of the saw blade, and for allowing the spindle of the saw blade to be moved relative to the frame and the casing. The casing includes an outlet formed therein for coupling to a vacuum device and for drawing or collecting the cut chips or particles that may be generated during the cutting operations.

A follower may further be provided and pivotally attached to the casing, and rotatably attached to the spindle of the saw blade, for supporting the guide member. The follower includes a link pivotally coupled thereto and pivotally coupled to the casing, for guiding the follower to move relative to the casing.

The casing includes a bar attached thereto, and the follower includes at least one finger extended therefrom and slidably engaged with the bar, for guiding the follower to move relative to the casing. The follower includes a lock member for locking the guide member to the follower.

The follower includes a groove formed therein, and the lock member includes at least one projection extended therefrom and slidably engaged in the groove of the follower, for guiding the lock member to slide and to adjust relative to the follower.

The guide member includes a pathway formed therein, the lock member includes at least one protrusion extended therefrom and slidably engaged in the pathway of the guide member, for guiding the guide member to slide and to adjust relative to the lock member and the follower. The lock member includes an anchor member secured thereto and having at least one cavity formed therein, for receiving or for engaging with the protrusion of the lock member, and for preventing the guide member from being rotated relative to the follower.

A shield may further be provided and attached to the guide member, for covering and shielding the saw blade. The shield includes an outlet hose for coupling to a vacuum device. The guide member includes a lock notch formed therein, the shield may be pivotally attached to the lock notch of the guide member with such as a pivot pin.

The frame includes two side panels secured thereto, for pivotally attaching the frame to the housing. The housing includes two side portions each having a curved sliding member provided thereon, and the side panels of the frame each includes a sliding member provided therein, for slidably engaging with the sliding members of the housing, and for pivotally attaching the frame to the housing.

One of the side panels includes a sector gear provided thereon, and a handwheel is rotatably attached to the housing with a pivot axle, and a bevel gear attached onto the pivot axle and engaged with the sector gear of the side panel, for adjusting the frame relative to the housing with the handwheel, according to the thickness and/or length of the work pieces.

The holder includes a sector gear provided thereon, and a handwheel is rotatably attached to the side panels with a pivot rod, and a bevel gear attached onto the pivot rod and engaged with the sector gear of the holder, for adjusting the holder relative to the frame with the handwheel, according to the thickness and/or length of the work pieces.

Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a worktable in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is another partial perspective view of the worktable;

FIG. 3 is a partial cross sectional view of the worktable, taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partial cross sectional view similar to FIG. 3, illustrating the operation of the worktable;

FIG. 5 is a partial cross sectional view of the worktable, taken along lines 5-5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a partial cross sectional view similar to FIG. 5, illustrating the operation of the worktable;

FIG. 7 is a partial exploded view of the worktable;

FIG. 8 is another partial exploded view of the worktable;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the worktable;

FIG. 10 is a partial plan schematic view of the worktable;

FIGS. 11, 12, 13 are partial plan schematic views similar to FIG. 10, illustrating the operation of the worktable; and

FIGS. 14 and 15 are partial cross sectional views of the worktable, taken along lines 14-14 and 15-15 of FIG. 8 respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1-6, a worktable in accordance with the present invention comprises a table body or a base or a housing 10 including a chamber 11 formed therein, and including two side beams or side portions 12, 13 each having a curved or semi-circular sliding member or rail 14 formed or provided thereon. One of the side beams or side portions 12 of the housing 10 includes a curved slot 15 formed therein, as shown in FIG. 2.

A frame 20 includes two side panels 21, 22 secured thereto, and each having a curved or semi-circular sliding member or channel 23 formed or provided therein, for slidably receiving the corresponding sliding member or rail 14 of the housing 10, and thus for pivotally or rotatably attaching the frame 20 and the side panels 21, 22 to the housing 10. One of the side panels 21 of the frame 20 includes a gear 24, such as a sector gear 24 formed or provided thereon (FIGS. 2-9).

The frame 20 includes two ears 25 extended therefrom and having an opening or space 26 formed or defined between the ears 25 (FIGS. 7-9). A handwheel 27 is rotatably attached to the housing 10 with such as a pivot axle 28 (FIG. 1), and a bevel gear 29 is attached onto the pivot axle 28, and engaged with the sector gear 24 of the side panel 21 of the frame 20 (FIGS. 3-6), to allow the side panels 21, 22 and thus the frame 20 to be rotated and adjusted relative to the housing 10 with the handwheel 27.

As also shown in FIGS. 2-4, a holder 30 is pivotally or rotatably attached to the frame 20, such as the ears 25 of the frame 20 with a shaft 31, and includes a gear 32, such as a sector gear 32 formed or provided thereon. A spindle 33 is rotatably attached to the holder 30, and spaced away from the shaft 31, and a pulley 34 and a circular or saw blade 35 are secured to the spindle 33 and rotated in concert with the spindle 33. The saw blade 35 may thus to be pivotally or rotatably attached to the frame 20 with the spindle 33 together with the holder 30.

The frame 20 includes a carrier 36 attached thereto (FIGS. 1, 2), for attaching or supporting a motor 37 thereon (FIGS. 2-4), and the motor 37 includes a spindle 38 coupled to the pulley 34 with a coupling member 39, such as a gear coupling, a sprocket-and-chain coupling member, a belt-and-pulley coupling member 39 or the like, for allowing the spindle 33 and thus the saw blade 35 to be rotated or driven by the motor 37. It is to be noted the motor 37 and the holder 30 and the spindle 33 and the saw blade 35 are all attached to the frame 20, and may be rotated and adjusted relative to the housing 10 with the handwheel 27 altogether.

Another handwheel 40 is rotatably attached to the side panels 21, 22 of the frame 20 (FIGS. 3-6), with such as a pivot rod 41, and a bevel gear 42 is attached onto the pivot rod 41, and engaged with the sector gear 32 of the holder 30 (FIGS. 3-4), to allow the holder 30 and thus the saw blade 35 to be rotated and adjusted up and down relative to the frame 20 and/or the housing 10 with the handwheel 40, best shown in FIGS. 3-4. The pivot rod 41 is extended out through the curved slot 15 of the side beams or side portions 12 of the housing 10, and limited to rotate relative to the housing 10 by the curved slot 15 of the side beams or side portions 12 of the housing 10. The above-described structure is typical and will not be described in further details.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 7-9, a casing 50 is further provided and secured or attached to the frame 20, or the frame 20 includes the casing 50 such as secured between the side panels 21, 22 thereof, to allow the casing 50 to be rotated in concert with the frame 20, relative to the housing 10. The casing 50 includes a chamber 51 formed therein and defined between two plates 52, 53, such as a rear or inner plate 52 and a front or outer plate 53, and the plates 52, 53 each includes a curved passage 54, 55 formed therein, for slidably receiving the spindle 33 of the pulley 34 and the saw blade 35, best shown in FIGS. 1, 5-6 and 10-13.

In operation, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5-6, the circular or saw blade 35 is received within the chamber 51 of the casing 50, and extendible upwardly and outwardly relative to the housing 10 (FIGS. 3, 6), for cutting or machining the work pieces. The casing 50 includes an outlet 56 formed therein (FIG. 7), and a port or nozzle 57 coupled to the outlet 56 thereof, for coupling to a vacuum device or vacuum source via a hose 58 (FIGS. 5-6 and 8-9), in order to draw or to collect the cut chips or particles that may be generated during the cutting operations, and thus to prevent the cut chips or particles from flying everywhere.

A follower 60 includes an orifice 61 formed in one end 62 thereof, and includes the other end 63 having one or more fingers 64 extended therefrom, and includes a groove 65 longitudinally formed in the middle portion thereof, and includes an ear 66 extended from the one end 62 thereof, for pivotally coupling to the housing 10 with such as a link 67, and for guiding the follower 60 to move relative to the housing 10. A bar 68 is secured or attached to the housing 10, and engaged with the fingers 64, for further guiding the follower 60 to move relative to the housing 10, and/or for guiding the follower 60 to move up and down or to move horizontally relative to the housing 10, without being tilted or inclined relative to the housing 10.

A guide member 70 is further provided and to be adjustably attached to the follower 60, and includes a pathway 71 formed therein, and includes a lock notch 72 formed therein, such as formed in the upper portion thereof, for pivotally or rotatably attaching a cover or hood or shield 73 thereto with such as a pivot pin 74 (FIGS. 5-6), and the shield 73 may also be provided to cover or shield the saw blade 35, and may include an outlet hose 75 coupled to a vacuum device or vacuum source, in order to draw or to collect the cut chips or particles that may be generated during the cutting operations, and thus to prevent the cut chips or particles from flying everywhere.

A lock member 80 is further provided and includes one or more projections 81 extended therefrom (FIG. 15), and slidably engaged in the groove 65 of the follower 60, for allowing the lock member 80 to slide or adjust or move relative to the follower 60. The lock member 80 may further include one or more protrusions 82, 83 extended therefrom (FIGS. 7-8 and 14), and slidably engaged in the pathway 71 of the guide member 70, for allowing the guide member 70 to be moved or guided or adjusted up and down relative to the follower 60.

The lock member 80 further includes an aperture 84 formed therein, for receiving a fastener 85 which may be engaged or threaded with an anchor member 86, for selectively or adjustably securing or locking the guide member 70 to the follower 60. The anchor member 86 may include one or more cavities 88 formed therein (FIG. 7), for receiving the protrusions 82, 83 of the lock member 80, and thus for stably securing the guide member 70 to the follower 60, and for preventing the guide member 70 from being rotated relative to the follower 60.

In operation, as shown in FIGS. 10-11 and 15, the projections 81 of the lock member 80 are slidably engaged in the groove 65 of the follower 60, to allow the lock member 80 and thus the guide member 70 to slide or adjust or move relative to the follower 60 and thus relative to the saw blade 35. In addition, as shown in FIGS. 12-13 and 14, the protrusions 82, 83 are slidably engaged in the pathway 71 of the guide member 70, to allow the guide member 70 to be moved or adjusted up and down relative to the follower 60 and thus relative to the saw blade 35.

After or when the work piece is cut by the saw blade 35, the guide member 70 may be provided for engaging with the work piece, and for guiding or separating the two cut pieces of the work piece away from each other, and for allowing the work piece to be suitably cut by the saw blade 35. As shown in FIGS. 5-6, when the guide member 70 is moved or adjusted up and down relative to the follower 60 and the saw blade 35, according to such as the thickness of the work pieces, the shield 73 may also be moved or adjusted up and down relative to the follower 60 and the saw blade 35, for suitably drawing or collecting the cut chips or particles that may be generated during the cutting operations, and thus for preventing the cut chips or particles from flying everywhere.

The follower 60 and the lock member 80 may thus be formed or acted as a securing or attaching means for attaching the guide member 70 and thus the shield 73 to the spindle 33 of the saw blade 35, to allow the guide member 70 and the shield 73 to be moved in concert with the spindle 33 of the saw blade 35. In addition, the guide member 70 and the shield 73 may be adjusted up and down, and away from or closer relative to the follower 60 and the saw blade 35, according to such as the thickness and/or the length of the work pieces, to allow the work piece to be suitably cut by the saw blade 35.

Accordingly, the worktable in accordance with the present invention includes an adjustable shield movable or adjustable relative to the circular blade, according to the different thickness or the length of the work pieces, for suitably covering or shielding the circular blade, and for preventing cut chips or particles from flying everywhere.

Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the detailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 

1. A worktable comprising: a housing, a frame pivotally attached to said housing, a holder pivotally attached to said frame, a saw blade including a spindle rotatably attached to said holder, for cutting a work piece, and a guide member attached to said spindle of said saw blade, for engaging with and for guiding the work piece after being cut by said saw blade.
 2. The worktable as claimed in claim 1, wherein said frame includes a casing secured thereto and rotated in concert with said frame relative to said housing, said casing includes a chamber formed therein to receive said saw blade.
 3. The worktable as claimed in claim 2, wherein said casing includes at least one passage formed therein to slidably receive said spindle of said saw blade, and for allowing said spindle of said saw blade to be moved relative to said frame and said casing.
 4. The worktable as claimed in claim 2, wherein said casing includes an outlet formed therein for coupling to a vacuum device.
 5. The worktable as claimed in claim 2 further comprising a follower pivotally attached to said casing, and rotatably attached to said spindle of said saw blade, for supporting said guide member.
 6. The worktable as claimed in claim 5, wherein said follower includes a link pivotally coupled thereto and pivotally coupled to said casing, for guiding said follower to move relative to said casing.
 7. The worktable as claimed in claim 5, wherein said casing includes a bar attached thereto, and said follower includes at least one finger extended therefrom and slidably engaged with said bar, for guiding said follower to move relative to said casing.
 8. The worktable as claimed in claim 5, wherein said follower includes a lock member for locking said guide member to said follower.
 9. The worktable as claimed in claim 8, wherein said follower includes a groove formed therein, and said lock member includes at least one projection extended therefrom and slidably engaged in said groove of said follower, for guiding said lock member to slide and to adjust relative to said follower.
 10. The worktable as claimed in claim 8, wherein said guide member includes a pathway formed therein, said lock member includes at least one protrusion extended therefrom and slidably engaged in said pathway of said guide member, for guiding said guide member to slide and to adjust relative to said lock member and said follower.
 11. The worktable as claimed in claim 10, wherein said lock member includes an anchor member secured thereto and having at least one cavity formed therein, for receiving said at least one protrusion of said lock member, and for preventing said guide member from being rotated relative to said follower.
 12. The worktable as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a shield attached to said guide member, for covering and shielding said saw blade.
 13. The worktable as claimed in claim 12, wherein said shield includes an outlet hose for coupling to a vacuum device.
 14. The worktable as claimed in claim 12, wherein said guide member includes a lock notch formed therein, said shield is pivotally attached to said lock notch of said guide member with a pivot pin.
 15. The worktable as claimed in claim 1, wherein said frame includes two side- panels secured thereto, for pivotally attaching said frame to said housing.
 16. The worktable as claimed in claim 15, wherein said housing includes two side portions each having a curved sliding member provided thereon, and said side panels of said frame each includes a sliding member provided therein, for slidably engaging with said sliding members of said housing, and for pivotally attaching said frame to said housing.
 17. The worktable as claimed in claim 15, wherein one of said side panels includes a sector gear provided thereon, and a handwheel is rotatably attached to said housing with a pivot axle, and a bevel gear attached onto said pivot axle and engaged with said sector gear of said side panel, for adjusting said frame relative to said housing with said handwheel.
 18. The worktable as claimed in claim 15, wherein said holder includes a sector gear provided thereon, and a handwheel is rotatably attached to said side panels with a pivot rod, and a bevel gear attached onto said pivot rod and engaged with said sector gear of said holder, for adjusting said holder relative to said frame with said handwheel. 